Bucket tooth unit



1 3- M. J. WHITE 2,325,991

BUCKET TOOTH UNIT Filed April '7, 1943 Ffg". 4

Marshall J? win 2 Patented Aug. 3, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT H OFFICE v BUCKET TOOTH UNIT Marshall J. White, Marysville, Calif. 1

Application April 7, 1943, Serial No. 482,112

(Cl. 37-142) k porting body and its included outwardly project- 8 Claims.

Thisv invention relates generally 'to an im proved bucket tooth unit for excavating buckets as used on power shovels, dredges and like equipment; the bucket tooth unit'being of the'type which includes a rearwardly opening socketed tooth removably mounted on the forwardly projecting tang of a supporting body carried by the lip of the bucket, the tooth being removable to permit of resharpening or replacement thereof.

invention to providean improved tooth lockingmechanism for this purpose. 7

Another object of this invention is to provide a locking mechanism for a bucket tooth of the type described, which mechanism is operative to automatically take up any slack occurring between the tooth and supporting body during use of the bucket tooth unit.

A further object of this invention is to provide a locking mechanism, for a bucket tooth unit ining tang.

Referringnow more particularly to the char acters of reference on the drawing, the numeral I indicates the tooth supporting body which is adapted to be mounted on and to project "forwardly from the lip of the excavating bucket; the means for attaching said body to the bucket lip being conventional-and nothere shown. The

. 2. The upper face 3 of the tang is parallel to but disposed some distance below or offset relative to the plane of the corresponding face 4 of the body I, whereby to forma shoulder 5. At the. sides and bottom the tank is also somewhat ofiset inw wardly relative to the corresponding portions of cluding a body tank symmetrically and matchingly engaging in a socketed tooth, comprising a boss projecting outwardly from one face of the tang, the corresponding portion of the tooth having a longitudinally elongated slot therethrough and into one end of which slot the boss projects, and a compression spring removably engaging between said boss and the longitudinal inner end of the slot, whereby the spring normally but releasably secures the tooth on the supporting body.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and ,yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such I structure and relative arrangement of parts as thebody.

The removable digging point or tooth comprises a fiat plate or tooth 6 of rectangular configuration in plan, which is sharpened at its forward end as at l. i

The tocthlfi includes a depending rearwardly opening socket. 8 formed to receive the tang 2 i therein in matching engagement as shown in Fig. 3; the inner end '9 of thetooth 8 being substantially i'nabutment with the shoulder 5 when 1 the tang 2 is fully seated in the socket 8. Rigid tongues It project rearwardly fromthefinner end 8 of the tooth (i adjacent opposite sides thereof and seat in matching sockets ll formed in the bodyand opening through the shoulder 5. By reasonof the offsetting of the tang surfaces, as described, the tooth and body aresubstantially flush on all sides. i

The above described bucket tooth unit is, in its general assembly, a conventional structure and it is to this structure that I apply my novel looking mechanism, and which comprises the following:

Intermediate the ends of tang 2 and centrally between the sides of the same, said'tang is formed with an integral and upstanding boss i2 which is rectangular inplan.

The tooth 5 intermediate 1 its ends and can trally of the sides thereof is formed with a longitudinally extending, elongated slot i3, which opens into the socket 8. The slots at its forward end has parallel side portions I4 spaced apart a distance only sufiicient to receive the rectangular elevation on boss l2 therebetween witi a relatively close fit. From the parallel side portions I l, the remaining side portions l5 of the slotl3 diverge rearwardly to the rear end I6 of the slot l3, whereby said rear end is of substantially greater width than the width of the slot between side portions I l. The end iii of the slot is formed centrally of its ends with a vertical notch IT.

A leaf spring l8, of slightly greater length than the normal distance between slot end 16 and the adjacent side IQ of the boss I2, is disposed edgewise in the slot and normally engaged in bowed relation with one end seated in notch ii and the other end abuttingsaid side is of the boss and withan adjacent side of the spring in con tact with one side-of the slot, as at C, whereby to prevent separation of the tooth from the tang; and further to take up any slack which may occur between the tooth and tang during use of the unit.

As shown in Fig 2, the boss i2 is normally disposed a slight distance clear of the forward end'of slot l3, which permits the bowed spring I 8, to take up any slack and to maintain the tooth firmly I engaged on the body tang.

The locking spring l8 is' brought into locking position by first disposing the spring in the slot I3 in the somewhat diagonal position shown in Fig. 1; the, height of the spring being substan-,

therein, the slot opening into the socket and the boss projecting into the slot, and a loaded compression spring normally engaged between the rear end of the slot and the adjacent side of the boss; the spring being a normally bowed leaf spring disposed edgewise relative to the tang, said rear end of the slot having a notch in which the corresponding end of the spring seats, and the portion of the spring adjacent its opposite end riding the one side wall of the slot adjacent the boss. .f

3. A locking mechanism as in claim 2 in which the portions of the sidewalls of the slot adjacent the boss are parallel and receive the boss therebetweenewith a relatively close fit.

4. A locking mechanism as in claim 2 in which the portions of the side walls of the slot adjacent the boss are parallel and receive the boss therebetween the concave side of the spring and the adjacent side of the slot and the tool actuated I to snap the spring outof notch HI whereupon it returns to its initial released positionand can be I withdrawn from the slot preparatory to scpara tion of the tooth from the tang. 1

With-the above described bucket tooth unit tooth for repair or replacement. While especially designed for use in connection with power shovels or dredges, the present inven-' 'tion isreadily adaptable to rooters, scarifiers, and

ditching machines.

7 From the foregoing description-it will be'readily seen that I have produced such a device as subbetween with a relatively close fi one of said side walls of the slot diverging longitudinally rearwardly from said parallel portion to the rear end of the. slot.

5. A releasable locking mechanism for a bucket tooth unit'which includes a rearwardly opening socketed tooth engaged on a supporting tang, said mechanism comprising a boss on and projecting outwardly from one face of the tang, the

tooth having a longitudinally elongated slot therein, the slot opening into'the socket and the boss projecting into the slot, the portions of the side walls of the slot adjacentsaid boss being parallel and receiving the boss therebetween with a relatively close fit, and a leaf spring disposed on edge in the slot between the rear end of the latter and the boss; the slot increasing in width between the boss and said rear end, the latter having a spring receiving notch therein intermediate the sides of the, slot, and the spring normally, being bowed with one end seated in the notch and the other end abutting against the boss with an adjacent side portion in contact with one side of the slot adjacent said boss.

6. A releasable locking mechanism for a bucket tooth unit which includes a rearwardly opening socketed tooth engaged on a supporting tang, said mechanism comprising a boss on and projecting stantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein. v v r While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from thespirit of the invention, as definedby the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I" claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is I p 1. A-releasable locking mechanism for a bucket tooth unit which includes a rearwardly opening socketed tooth engaged ona supporting tang, said mechanism comprising a boss on and projecting outwardly from one face of the tang, the tooth having a slot therein, the slot opening into the socket and the boss projecting into the slot, and a loaded compression spring normally engaged between the rear endof the slot and the adjacent side of the boss.

2. A releasable locking mechanism for. a bucket tooth unit which includes a rearwardly opening socketed tooth engaged on a supporting tang,

outwardly from onev face of the tang, the tooth having a longitudinally elongated slot therein,

the slot opening into the socket and the boss projecting into the slot, the portions of the side walls of the slot adjacent said boss being parallel and receiving the boss therebetween with a relatively close fit, and a leaf spring disposed on edge in the slot between the rear end of the latter and the boss; the sides of the slot diverging symmetrically rearwardly from said parallel portions of the latter, the rear end of the slot having -'a spring receiving notch therein intermediate the sides of the-slot, and the spring normally being bowed with one end seated in the notch and the other end abutting against the boss with an adjacent side portion in contact with one side of the slot adjacent said boss.

7. 'A releasable locking mechanism for a bucket tooth unit which includes a rearwardly opening socketed tooth engaged on.a supporting'tang, said mechanism comprising a boss on and projecting' outwardly from one face of the tang, the tooth having a longitudinally elongated slot therein, theslotopening into the socket and the boss projecting into the slot, and a loaded compression spring normally engaged between'the rear end of the slot and the adjacent side of the boss; the opposite side of the boss normally being in clearance relation to the forward end of the 7 slot.

8. A releasable locking mechanism for a bucket tooth unit which includes a rearwardly opening socketed tooth engaged on a supporting tang,

said mechanism comprising a boss onand projecting outwardly from one face of the tang, the

tooth having a longitudinally elongated slot boss; said spring being of leaf type and normally bowed.

MARSHALL J. WHITE. 

